President Joe Biden is preparing to back substantial changes to the Supreme Court, including implementing term limits for justices and creating an enforceable ethics code.
Breitbart reported that this shift in stance aims to invigorate the Democratic Party’s left-wing constituency amid Biden's faltering reelection campaign prospects. Biden’s endorsement of these changes is expected to energize Democratic voters and satisfy demands from radicals for Biden to crush the conservative Supreme Court.
Biden’s plans, reported by The Washington Post on Tuesday, signal a major shift from his previous resistance to Supreme Court reform.
Historically, Biden has opposed calls to alter the composition or functioning of the high court. However, recent political pressures and past Democratic ambitions to expand and "pack" the court have likely influenced his decision.
Democrats will screech about Democracy and our nation's political norms and then demand that the judiciary be corrupted and politicized.
The reforms include instituting term limits for Supreme Court justices and forming a new "ethics code" applicable to the judiciary. This move comes as a response to previous Democratic desires to counter the court's current Republican-appointed majority.
During the brief period when Democrats held a Congressional majority between 2021 and 2022, efforts to expand the court were a significant topic of discussion.
However, with the potential loss of Senate control in the forthcoming elections, expanding the court has become a less attractive option for Biden and the Democrats.
Talks of packing the Supreme Court gained momentum following Justice Brett Kavanaugh's contentious confirmation in 2018, which secured a 5-4 Republican majority.
The subsequent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the swift appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett further bolstered Republican influence on the court, intensifying calls for reform.
During his 2020 presidential campaign, Biden refrained from taking a definitive stance on Supreme Court reform. He instead promised to convene a commission to study the issue. The commission's report, issued in December 2021, identified potential difficulties associated with court expansion but found merit in term limits and establishing an ethics code.
Despite the commission's findings, Biden did not pursue immediate action, largely due to the significant bipartisan legislative support required for such reforms. However, recent developments suggest that Biden is now ready to take decisive steps.
In addition to term limits and an ethics code, Biden is reportedly considering advocating for a constitutional amendment.
This amendment would revoke broad immunity currently extended to presidents and other constitutional officeholders. Such changes could reshape the judicial and executive branches' accountability.
According to two anonymous sources familiar with the plans, Biden's endorsement of these reforms is imminent. An official announcement is expected in the coming weeks.
"The announcement would mark a major shift for Biden, a former chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who has long resisted calls to reform the high court," noted one source, highlighting the significance of the move.
Critics, particularly from the Republican Party, have expressed concerns about the proposed changes. Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH) voiced opposition, suggesting that Democrats are seeking to alter the rules in response to recent unfavorable court decisions.
"Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH), who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, told Breitbart News during an interview at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that Democrats are simply trying to change the rules because recent Court decisions haven’t gone their way."
Biden's planned endorsement of Supreme Court reform marks a pivotal moment in his presidency.
The proposed changes, which include term limits and an enforceable ethics code for justices, aim to address ethical concerns and judicial accountability.
This move, motivated by political and ethical considerations, represents a significant departure from Biden's previous stance and seeks to energize Democratic voters as upcoming elections approach.
However, critics argue that these changes are politically motivated, highlighting the complexity and contentiousness of Supreme Court reform.
Overall, Biden's decision underscores the ongoing debate over the structure and function of one of the nation's most crucial institutions.
